Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
My face is practically stuck to Tucker’s chest, and my body is sore in a dozen different ways as I gently pull myself away from him. It’s enough to wake him up, which he does all at once, with his eyes flying open before he blinks rapidly and looks at me like he’s going through the same surprise I did when I first woke up. It takes a second for him to remember I’m here, but once he does, he relaxes a little. His head sinks back against the pillows before he rubs his eyes with his fists. “Good morning.”
It almost doesn’t seem like enough after what happened last night, but I’m guessing he’s just as clueless as I am. For once, it’s like we’re on the same page. “Good morning.”
“How are you feeling?” he asks. All it takes is me rolling my eyes for him to get the idea, and he snorts a little. “Yeah, I guess not that great.”
But that’s the thing. I don’t feel terrible, and it’s because he was the person who used me last night. But what do I do, thank him for that? It’s not like this is an everyday situation. I doubt there’s an entry in an etiquette manual. How to thank the guy who fucked you when he knew you were drugged, and you couldn’t do anything about it. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, either.
“I’m fine,” I decide. Even if that’s not exactly true, it will have to be, because I can’t wallow in this. Life has to go on. I did what I signed on to do, and it’s over now.
And now I’m in Tucker’s bed, wearing his shirt. Every part of this situation is more inexplicable.
“I’ve gotta take a piss.” He opens and closes his mouth a few times before sitting up, grimacing. “And brush my teeth.”
I would thank him for the play-by-play update, but I don’t have it in me to be sarcastic. Not when I remember how rough he was with me, how he took advantage, but then how kind he was afterward. He got me out of there, and brought me here, he took care of me.
I sit up, too, once he’s out of the room. The first thing I need to do is check my phone. Wren squealed on me, yeah, and I’m still a little disappointed she did—but she’ll probably be worried, too. If the tables were turned, I’d be worried sick about her.
What a shame most of the texts and missed calls that have come through since last night aren’t from her. A couple are, but the majority are from Dad. Is he concerned? Wondering how I held up. If I need anything? Not exactly.
Dad: Where are you?
Dad: Get your ass home immediately.
Dad: Call me now. We need to talk.
“This bodes well,” I whisper, my heart sinking further than it already has. I mean, sure, things could’ve gone a lot worse last night. Things could be a lot worse this morning, too. But I’ve sort of been through a lot, and the last thing I need is my father up my ass, demanding things. Insisting I speak with him when speaking with him is the last thing I want to do now or ever.
I set the phone aside with a sigh, silently getting myself ready for a conversation I don’t want to have.
“Everything all right?” Tucker wears the almost lazy smile of a guy who got his way last night once he sticks his head back in the room. Like he doesn’t have a problem in the world. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve wished over the years I could be somebody else—somebody with everything together, somebody without the sort of dark, ugly memories I hold in my heart. Memories I would give anything to be free of.
Right now, I can’t decide if I hate him or wish I could be him.
“Fine, I guess,” I murmur, waving a hand. It’s so easy to pretend. I don’t even have to think about it anymore.
The less he knows about all of this, the better. I mean, it’s bad enough he understands why I was there last night, who sent me, everything that was hanging in the balance. I’m not sure my sense of shame could handle him knowing much more than that.
“Sure. You look like somebody who has everything under control. Not at all like you’ve seen a ghost.” He ducks back into the bathroom, and I hear the water running while he brushes his teeth. It’s almost like he’s happy to have me here. Knowing the way his brain works, I’m sure he’s happier to have me under his thumb. That’s what he’s really all about.
I don’t want to believe it, but I need to. The last thing I need is to start getting crazy ideas about how there’s something special between us just because he came to my rescue and got his dick wet in the process. Obviously, he can stand to lose the money. I’m sure it means nothing to him.